European Commission Vice-President for Cohesion and Reforms Raffaele Fitto addressed the COTER Commission of the European Committee of the Regions during a joint session with the REGI Committee of the European Parliament. 

ECR members congratulated Commissioner Fitto for his appointment as Vice-President of the European Commission, and underlined the positive decision, few days in office, to meet regional and local leaders in the CoR.  Mr Fitto stressed the need to streamline and simplify Cohesion Policy, pointing out that he will work towards achieving a Cohesion policy that is better aligned with regional and national policy priorities. Ensuring that decisions are made at the most appropriate level according to the principle of subsidiarity will enhance the effectiveness of cohesion, as highlighted by ECR 1st Vice-President Władysław Ortyl.

"In the new mandate, all decision makers must focus on strengthening European security and competitiveness. Cohesion policy must therefore be recalibrated to support these overarching objectives, especially in the EU external border regions, which are vital for EU security", said Mr Ortyl. ECR members also stressed the importance of finding better synergies between EU, national and regional strategic objectives and sources of funding to be able to tackle some of the EU's main challenges. It is essential that "the upcoming cohesion policy reforms will be grounded in a more pragmatic approach, with a focus on simplification and achieving results", ECR members said.

Commissioner Fitto committed himself to engage regularly with regions & cities, highlighting how each of them "is in control of their own future" and how it is important to "reinforce their role in addressing the key challenges that lie ahead".